Deepa's Water - India

May 2006
'Water', the latest film by controversial director Deepa Mehta has provoked a wave of political protests in India. But Deepa Mehta has no regrets.

The film reveals how widows are condemned by religious law to live as outcasts. "There were all sorts of mumblings that the script was anti-Hindu," recalls Mehta. "Before we knew it, mobs materialised and threw our sets into the river and started burning my effigy." Protestors managed to stop filming in India and the production was moved to Sri Lanka. But many of the protestors were simply targeting Mehta because of her earlier film, 'Fire'. It depicted lesbians in India and was accused of encouraging homosexuality.

Produced by SBS/Dateline
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

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[shellsybelle]

This film is excellent and deserves full praise for its work. Well done Deepa!

[digmanfroyd]

Thank you a hundred billion times over for making such brilliant movies, Deepa Mehta. People really need to get over the provocative messages and learn to love the movies for the intricate beauty that is intertwined so gracefully in the stories. India needs to learn to face the truth and all aspects of it, whether good or bad... and thank you for opening our eyes to such a wonderful work of art

[LordHighXcutioner]

@travpoet: It's there definitely (as it is in the West). Just don't generalize! And this depends on which place of India you visit. It is common in the really socially backward states (Orissa, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh). But then again, it's hard to find a group that isn't discriminated against there. We call them "socially backward" for a reason. "Travelling" isn't the same as having lived there, and eve-teasing while a common problem isn't discrimination.

[travpoet]

@LordHighXcutioner - oh please! just because YOU didn't see any discrimination doesn't mean it's not there! I travelled across India, and I saw PLENTY of discrimination (and haraasment) EVERY FUCKING DAY.

[rahsum]

I belong to this society, and I firmly believe these customs of suppressing women must go at any cost even if these are written in scriptures.

[eBummed]

people- whoops sorry, women-, its fricking true that no matter which religion we belong to, in the end we're "women" --> F the male dominant world. The word man is always used to describe a human, a person. He. He. He. Why can't you ffing say "she"?

[makezmuzic]

Its amazing how people can use such amazing movies as a vehicle of racism and sexism and religious supremacy. ALL patriarch religions arensexist, just by the nature of their definition. All religions are used to control the population. Those that have, use it to control the have-nots. In EVERY country, With EVERY race, and class.

[makezmuzic]

Thank you for this wonderful movie. What amazing courage the whole cast has.

[LordHighXcutioner]

@bluegreen1138: We don't need condescending ignorant Westerners to lecture us on Women's Rights. Our colleges were churning female graduates in West Bengal, when your women were still slaves to their husbands. Our country had female scholars and poetesses, when your ancestors were dragging their women by the hair, and raping them in caves. I've lived in an Indian city for five years, and have yet to witness an instance of anti-female discrimination.

[bluegreen1138]

I lived in India for 7 months. Yet when I tell fellow westerners about these issues I learned of while in India. I don't feel I'm believed. Many people don't want to hear about unpleasant things and willfully choose to ignore suffering. Nothing will improve if all we do is put our fingers in our ears and say lalalalal I'm not listing lalalala. India you are strong, growing, and amazing, now be nice to your females.

[Radian1991]

@veritbo Yes,I agree,that's why I'm an Sanatana Dharmist :D

[veritbo]

@Radian1991 yeah well reliigon is crap.